easy summer tart

This is definitely going to be a summer staple. It's quick, easy and delicious! I ran across this recipe while flipping through an old magazine. It's only 5 ingredients so that makes it a perfect summer meal!

Rustic Tomato Basil Tart

1 refrigerated rolled ready to use pie crust {1/2 of a 15 oz pkg.}
3 medium plum tomatoes thinly sliced
1 tbsp balsamic glaze {I used balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing}
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese divided

1. Unroll pie crust on baking sheet. Top with 1 cup cheese, leaving a 1.5 inch border around edges. Arrange tomatoes in a single layer over cheese. Drizzle balsamic glaze evenly over tomatoes: top with basil and the remaining cheese.

2. Fold edges of pie crust over filling, tucking and pressing down edges onto tart.

3. Bake on lowest oven rack in a preheated 375 degree oven 25 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 15 minutes. Cut into wedges. Serve warm or at room temperature.

a little random

Just loving these pictures so I thought I would share.  What a busy weekend.  I thought we were going to head out of town, but a lot of friends came to visit us instead.  2 BBQ's, staying up talking until the wee hours of the morning, playing music, listening to my sister and her friend singing songs they wrote, eating, eating, eating, spiked watermelon galore, lounging around..... Good times to be had by all.  Now, I am dead tired!

mermaid braids

remember friendship bracelets?

I love how they have gone totally glam.  I remember making these in middle school, carrying around my clipboard all day.... Good times.  I am seriously thinking about taking a trip to the craft store for some embroidery floss!  Fun summer project.

I found this little bit of information about friendship bracelets.... {wikipedia}

Friendship bracelets are not like other bracelets which are worn as a fashion accessory.

They are special bracelets given from one friend to another as a symbol of friendship.

According to indigenous tradition, the recipient of a friendship bracelet must wear it until the cords wear out and fall off naturally.

Removing the bracelet before it naturally falls off is a sign that the friendship has gone sour.

a taste of summer

A day of rainbows and long dresses

Feasting on fresh berries

Never too old for playing

A little stolen moment

for your beach bag

Oooh …so cute! This just might be my next obsession. Lancome has teamed up with Yayoi Kusama on a limited-edition Juicy Tubes set. I love the fun illustrations on the front!

So here’s the scoop: They are each 100% natural and preservative-free. Ok…my interest continues to peak. The juicy tubes formula also includes properties thatnourishes the lips like shea butter and honey. There are six different flavors to choose from: grapefruit, apricot, honey, raspberry, hazelnut cacao, and vanilla. Sounds yummy!

The Lancome Natural Juicy Tubes by Yayoi Kusama collection is now available at the Lancome counters, as well as online at Lancome.com. Each tube is priced at $15.

frozen banana ice cream

If you freeze a banana until solid, then whiz it up in a blender or food processor, it gets creamy and a little gooey, just like good custard ice cream.

Have you ever tried frozen-banana ice cream? Try it! It's an easy way to stay cool and use up over-ripe bananas at the same time.

have a great weekend...

naturally smooth

Can a shave cream make you smile? We think so. That’s why we invented this one. It’s made with natural aloe, oat, shea butter and antioxidant vitamins E and C to leave your skin looking radiantly healthy. This non-foaming cream boosts skin’s moisture level and keeps it smooth long after you’re done shaving. It’s so moisturizing, you can shave wet or dry. And eos provides a closer shave, even helping to prevent those little razor bumps. Who knows? You might even look forward to shaving.

• So moisturizing, you can shave wet or dry, leaving skin soft and smooth.
• Non-foaming cream enriched with natural aloe, oat, and shea butter soothes while boosting skin's moisture level.
• Antioxidant vitamins E & C help skin look radiantly healthy.
• Comes in a soft-touch recyclable bottle that won't leave a rust ring in your tub.
• Paraben-free.
• Phthalate-free.

I can't wait to try this.

xo

shopping with gwyneth paltrow

2 very cute looks from the latest Goop newsletter.

trip to puerto rico

Buye Beach

Los Morillos Lighthouse

Limestone cliffs at the lighthouse

We just got back from Puerto Rico a week ago... What amazing sites we saw.  Just a few pics I wanted to share with you. The beaches are beautiful and the cliffs were out of this world awesome!! Good times visiting family and spending a few restful days soaking in the sun and playing in the water...

xo,

tips from india hicks

HER SKINCARE:

“I religiously apply SPF 55 to all exposed areas. And I keep my skin hydrated by drinking loads of water and regularly applying moisturizer chock-full of natural emollients, such as coconut and olive oils.”

HER FITNESS REGIME:

 “We all love to be active outdoors. I run along the pink sand with my dogs―I’m slow but I run far. My boys cycle, scooter, and rip-stick (like surfing on dry land) all over the island.”

BEAUTY SECRETS SHE'S LEARNT IN THE BAHAMAS:

 “The island’s older generation would use the coir fibres on the outside of a coconut shell to exfoliate. I love using the fine pink sand for a good body scrub. I mix a bit of sand with coconut oil and add a few drops of peppermint oil.”

HER SHINY HAIR TIPS:

 “After shampooing, rinse with lemon juice for blondes or chamomile tea for brunettes. It will give your hair nice sheen.”

HOW SHE STAYS HEALTHY:

 “Juicing is a great way to benefit from raw fruit and vegetables. One of my favourite recipes is a delicious combination of banana, mango, pineapple, yogurt, coconut, and honey.”

pretty beach hair

I definitely don't have long enough hair to pull this off but if I did I would be rocking the fishtail braid all summer long

tips from tory burch

{via: Tory Burch Blog}

summer scents

They say that life at the beach is good and they aren’t wrong. Tousled, sun-lit locks, tanned, salty skin and of course that unmistakable, undeniable aroma of suntan lotion mixed with fresh sea air. Throw in an iced green tea and crisp, cold sliced pineapple and we are in our very own blissed out beach babe paradise. Help yourself to a scentual slice of heaven with my favorite fragrances that ensure you’ll get in the mood for sand, surf and summer sizzle.

To help  spice up the  summer atmosphere  spritze on Lavanila’s Vanilla Grapefruit ($58). An all-natural blend of luscious vanilla, bright grapefruit and crisp lime, this scent is like an uplifting scented summer rendezvous.  Research shows sparkling grapefruit is a man’s favorite scent while velvety vanilla is a woman’s favorite scent. So, spray it on and prettily please your whole crowd, not to mention smell fresh, fruity and fab.

 Estee Lauder’s newest summer fragrance, Bronzed Goddess ($52). With a name like that, we’re easily and simply sold! Sensuous top notes of bergamot and mandarin, middle notes of graceful gardenia and coconut and bottom notes of warming sandalwood and amber round this perfume out making it all that summer should be, bottled up for your perfect paradise pleasure.

I can’t help but be obsessed, obligated and obliged to my two favorite summer scents. Both are equally challenging to find and equally absolutely amazing. Miss Marisa Perfume Oil by Ebba ($62) is available online. With notes of plum, cassis, mint and water lily this dazzling fragrance is my go-to, always in my purse, never leave home without her. Kai Eau de Parfum ($72) is a tropical scented bouquet of gardenia, jasmine and tuberose that will knock you head over Louboutin heels into radiant summer rapture.

Xo,

DIY protein pack for hair

Your hair is made up of proteins, which can break up from exposure to the sun, chemicals and harsh conditions - so what better way to strengthen your strands than to put some back with this DIY protein pack!

What you'll need:

2 eggs

1/2 cup yogurt

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup olive oil

What to do:

1. Beat the eggs until they become frothy and add in the olive oil.

2. Whisk until it's fully blended together and add in the yogurt, mixing until it's a creamy consistency. Then add the honey.

3. Comb out any knots and tangles in your hair, and spread the mixture from your roots to your ends, combing it through.

4. Wrap your hair in a warm towel for twenty to thirty minutes before your rinse it out and shampoo.

Hel-lo shiny hair! 

{Source: Self}

get bikini ready

See more videos on modelinia.com

{modelinia}

Summer Sandwich

I am always on the lookout for light and healthy recipes.  When I ran across this one on the Whole Foods website I knew it would be a hit with the family.  It is delicious...

Cucumber sandwich with Strawberries and Watercress

Serves 4

When summer fruits are at their sweetest, peaches make a worthy substitution for the strawberries in this recipe.

Ingredients

8 large strawberries
4 ounces (8 tablespoons) Neufchâtel, softened
1 tablespoon chopped mint
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 seedless cucumber, thinly sliced
1 bunch watercress, long stems trimmed
8 slices whole wheat sandwich bread

Method

Chop 4 of the strawberries and slice the remaining 4. In a large bowl, mash chopped strawberries with a fork. Add Neufchâtel, mint and zest and mix until well combined.

Spread strawberry mixture evenly between slices of bread. Arrange cucumbers, sliced berries and watercress over half of the slices. Top with remaining slices to form sandwiches, then cut in half and serve.

{Recipe via Whole Foods}

beach glow

What if I told you that you can look skinnier from a body lotion? Would you think I’m crazy? Trying to sell  you good old fashioned marketing hype?

Prtty Peaushun Skin Tight Body Lotion offers you just that - a bit of shimmer added to an amazing body moisturizer promises a slimmer silhouette without the inconvenience of moving a muscle (well, except you’ve gotta rub in the lotion).

Hollywood Makeup Artist, Bethany Karlyn, has created a formula with subtle light reflecting pigments that give a natural radiance to the skin, even out skin tone and enhance muscle tone. It conceals minor imperfections such as cellulite, stretch marks and varicose veins and helps to enhance definition. Bethany says that she’s been using this formula on her celebrity clients for years and finally it’s available for purchase. The lotion comes in 4 “colors” (it’s lightly tinted to add a fab sheen to a summer tan): LIGHT, MEDIUM, DARK and DEEP DARK. The actual formula is incredible with 92% natural raw ingredients, made without toxins, parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes or fragrance. 

And the packaging, while odd at first glance, is actually an incredible way to diminish our carbon footprint. They call it “anti-packaging” as it is designed to take up the smallest amount of space in landfills.

I used the lotion the entire weekend and was blown away by the results: stunning, even skin that really did glow. The tag line is: “Look great in your birthday suit…” They aren’t kidding around. 

Prtty Peauchun is lightweight, easy to dispense and feels lucious on the skin. I’m obsessed.

hi honey... i'm home

hold me down... like whoe! :)

get out of the gym and into the water

“Supermodel Marisa Miller is not your typical gym girl. She prefers skimming the waves on a stand-up paddleboard (SUP). “It tones the big areas like your butt, abs, and back; as well as those tiny, supporting muscles that pull everything together,” says Marisa.”

bella beach mama {halle berry}

tou-SHEA

Kinda obsessing over this awesome lip balm I picked up at the airport. Perfect little pot of Shea to keep the lips soft.

traveling

I am leaving for Puerto Rico tomorrow! Packing the bags....

iconic

Gotta love being able to rock the teeny tiny bikini!